At least four people have been killed, including a teacher and his two young sons, after a man on a scooter opened fire outside a Jewish school in the south-western French city of Toulouse.

A gunman killed at least four people — three in one family — and one other student.

City prosecutor Michel Valet said the man "shot at everything he could see, children and adults, and some children were chased into the school" before fleeing on a black scooter, France 24 reported.

Valet said a father and his two sons, both students, and another student were killed. A 17-year-old was seriously injured.

The attack at the Ozar Hatorah school, in a residential neighborhood, was similar to a shooting Thursday in Montauban, a city 45 minutes north of Toulouse, where two soldiers were killed by a gunman also riding a scooter, France 24 said. Earlier last week, a soldier from another regiment was also killed in Toulouse.

According to French daily Le Figaro, spent cartridges found at the scene on Monday were of the same .45 calibre as cartridges used in the Montauban shootings last week. The paper also reported that police sources believed it was the same killer.

Police sources told the newspaper they believed the shootings were committed by same person.

Government officials called for increased security at Jewish schools in France.

President Nicolas Sarkozy called the school shooting a "devastating tragedy." His office said he was going to the southwestern community with his education minister, Luc Chatel.

Socialist Party candidate Francois Hollande, who will oppose Sarkozy in presidential election, said he was going to Toulouse as well.

Leaders of Israeli and Muslim communities in France said they were horrified by the tragedy, Le Figaro reported. France's grand rabbi said he was headed for Toulouse.